Yorkshire Florist: eucalyptus

Monday, 6 April 2020

Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees - Eucalyptus Deglupta

Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the rainbow eucalyptus

Rainbow Eucalyptus is a real tree (aka the Rainbow tree), and really cool also. Eucalyptus deglupta is the only Eucalyptus tree that can be found growing naturally in the northern hemisphere

Rainbows do not have a thick corkybark as do many other trees, but rather a smooth, paper-like bark that is very much alive. What’s truly cool is that this bark exfoliates or peels off randomly, revealing brilliant shades of green, yellow, pink-orange and eventually maroon to brown giving this tree its common name.

>The peeling bark strips off at different times and continues to do so for the life of the tree. This curious phenomena never leaves the same pattern twice, so your “Rainbow” is a living work of ever changing art.

The typical aroma of Eucalyptus trees (like Vick’s Vapo rub) is absent in this species

Rainbows are remarkably easy to grow in the appropriate climate, however slower in cooler climates naturally. Ample water is a prerequisite for these trees particular in early life. Planting near a pond or water feature makes the most sense.

Rainbows are used for pulp as they grow so quickly and their fibre is consider a sustainable source. Rainbows are the major source of pulpwood in their homeland of the Philippines

Although considered an invasive species in many parts of the world, a Rainbow Eucalyptus still has many beneficial elements least of all its incredible beauty.

Furniture and wood crafts made from a Rainbow still have some variation in various shades of green and brown.

Due to the Rainbow’s thirsty nature it has been used to soak up swampy areas in global equatorial zones to help prevent malaria which is spread by mosquitoes that breed in such conditions.